Finnvid stared at her in frustration, but Theos seemed more resigned. “Maybe she’s right. The warlord is unpredictable, so it’s too risky to have the meeting in the city. This isn’t their problem.”
“How can you say that?” Finnvid demanded. “You haveforty-sixchildren living in this city. The fate of their father is none of their concern, or their mothers’ concern? And will the warlord be kind to them all if he takes over?”
“Forty-seven,” the reeve murmured. “Alloria had a boy while you were away. She’s calling him Toro.”
“Toro,” Theos said quietly, almost sadly. “He’s healthy? And she’s well?”
“It was a long birth, but she’s strong. They’re both fine.”
Finnvid couldn’t let them get off track. “And in nine years, Toro will leave his mother and go to live in the barracks. How will the warlord treat him? What will the rules be, and how will anyone who dares to stand up to tyranny be punished? If the warlord is mad enough to think about starting a civil war for his own selfish gains, he clearly doesn’t value the life of Torian soldiers.” Finnvid ignored Theos and stared at the reeve. “And you have other grandsons. If you won’t stand up for your son, won’t you at least help them? The children of the women you’re trying to protect?”
“My grandsons?” Her voice was sad. “I can help the girls, but the boys? They’ll go to live in the barracks, and Theos or someone just like him will teach them that their only role in life is to kill and die in battle. Is that really so much worse than whatever the warlord is planning?”
“Theos knows more than that,” Finnvid protested. He supposed he was the one being dragged away from the topic now, but he wouldn’t stand there and let the reeve be so critical of her son. “Otherwise,hewouldn’t care about the warlord. He’d just train and rest and wait to be called to battle. He’s willing to risk his life to protect the Torian way, the way that’s good for the women and children, if not the men. The danger isn’t just in battle, but in making a stand like this. He knows what happened to the captain, and what they might be doing to Andros, and still he stands up for what he believes in. If your grandsons learn that sort of strength in the barracks, I think you should be pleased, and proud of them!”
“He’s willing to make a stand because the warlord has made himself the enemy of the Sacrati. You may think this is about ideals, but it isn’t. Not for Theos. It’s just about winning. Destroying the enemy.”
“Because Theos can’t use his own judgment? He can’t decide for himself who’s an enemy, and who’s a friend?” Finnvid frowned at her. “How sad for you, to not see him more clearly. I’ve known him for a much shorter time, and yet I’ve seen him show mercy and compassion and respect. I’ve seen him change his mind about who the enemy was when faced with new information, and I’ve seen him walk away from fights I know he wanted to run toward.”
She raised her eyebrows dismissively, but there wassomethingin her expression as she gazed at her son. “So, I haven’t seen you clearly?”
Theos had been staring at Finnvid, but finally he looked at his mother and shrugged. “This isn’t important.” He stopped, and turned back to Finnvid. “I don’t mean . . . What you said . . . thank you. It’s importantto me.” Then he told his mother, “It’s not what we should be talking about. You don’t think much of me . . . I know that, but it’s not important right now.” He was silent for a moment, then said, “You need to pick a side. You should know that if you choose the Sacrati’s side, and the warlord wins, he’ll punish you, and possibly the rest of the women. And if you choose the warlord’s side, and the Sacrati win? The Sacrati will continue to treat you and the women of Windthorn with respect. So if you want to be smart, I suppose you’ll choose to help the warlord.” He shook his head. “But I’m hoping you’d rather beright. And you know which side is the right side. You know.”
“I can’t afford to back you if I don’t think you can succeed,” she said. “If I think there’s a chance, then I’ll do what I’m able. But . . . what’s your plan? You’ll gather the men together, tell them the warlordhintedthat the Sacrati should be attacked—because I saw that letter, and all it really did washint—and . . . then what? They need a leader, Theos. The captain is dead, and the warlord is strong. If you’re going to win, you’ve got to give them an option. They need someoneelseto follow.”
“We’ll have elections,” Theos said. He frowned. “That’s what we do. Why would it be different this time?”
“Elections eventually, yes. But not right away. The men can’t vote until they’re confident they know the whole story, and that will take time. In the meantime, someone has to step up and take charge. Are you willing to do that?”
“Me? There are many Sacrati more qualified. I’m not even an iyatis anymore.”
“There may be Sacrati more qualified. There certainly are some who are iyatis. But none of them arehere, Theos.” She shook her head, quickly forestalling his objection. “I don’t mean you should take the job because you’re convenient. I meannone of them care enough to take a chance. None of them came here and tried to find a solution.”
Theos looked at Finnvid and the confusion on his face made Finnvid want to find a blanket and a den and snuggle Theos and keep him safe forever. But it was too late for that.
“Five breaths ago she was telling me how worthless I am,” Theos said, as if his mother couldn’t hear him. “Now she wants me to take charge of the entire military. Are you following this?”
“Not really,” Finnvid admitted. He turned to the reeve. “Have you changed your mind about him?”
“Changed my mind? I said Theos would shape his sons to see the world the way he does. I still believe that, and I still don’t like the way he sees it.” She frowned. “I admit, I may not seehimany more clearly than I think he sees the world. I need to think about what you said. But, as he said, this isn’t about that. We’re not looking for a philosopher, or even a long-term leader. We just need someone the men trust, and someone they’ll follow. Someone brave or stupid enough to stand up against a would-be tyrant who’s shown himself willing to kill those who stand against him.”
A quiet, mocking smile, then she added, “We need the sort of man who could bring someone to Windthorn as a prisoner, send him away as an enemy, and somehow return with him as a loyal ally. We need someone who could convince someone to follow him into danger and take his side, no matter what.” She glanced down at Finnvid’s wrist, at the bracelet, and said, “I gave him that when he left home and went to the barracks. And now I see it on your wrist, and I see you touching it when you want comfort.” She raised an eyebrow. “Tell me, Finnvid of the Elkati—can you think of anyone better able to do what needs to be done? Anyone more likely to turn hostility into . . . something better?”
Finnvid felt his face flush, but didn’t let it bother him. He hadn’t known his affection was so obvious, but there were more important things to worry about than his pride. “I can’t, no. I think he’s someone worth following. I just want to make sure you won’t agree now, and then lose faith halfway through whatever comes and abandon him. He needs to know who he can count on.”
She looked at him for longer than seemed necessary, then over at her son. “You’ve surprised me, Theos,” she said softly.
He shrugged. “We need to speak to the men. The city’s the safest place to do it. Will you invite them in?”
She nodded, slowly. “Yes. Tomorrow. We can send messengers to the training yards, midmorning, and have the men come here directly. Will that give you enough time to get ready?”
“Ready?” he asked blankly.
She snorted. “You need to give some thought to what you’ll say, and how you’ll say it. And more practically . . . you look like a bear, and smell like what a bear leaves behind. The men may not want you to look pampered, but they’ll at least want to believe that following you won’t mean a life of depravation and filth.” She turned up her nose. “Go to the temple baths. They’ll be deserted at this time of night. And I’ll have someone bring you clothes from the garment makers. What else do you need?”
“I need to talk to Xeno. As soon as possible. Could you send a messenger for him?”
“And new boots,” Finnvid interjected. The Xeno conversation was probably important, but so were Finnvid’s feet. “Ours are wet and worn. And maybe some ointment for our skin? And food.” He realized he was making a lot of demands, yet the reeve just nodded as if she was pleased there was someone able to look after the practicalities. So Finnvid thought a little harder. What else would Theos need? He was about to give an important speech, and he wasn’t much for words. “Will there be writing tools at the temple? Something we can use to put down key points?”
